I'm not one for harsh punishments, and I support Ferrari and McLaren (The latter because of the Mercedes Benz legacy and the former for Kimi). I would rather have a points reduction rather than a full suspension of the team, if it came down to that. There doesn't have to be a full blown reduction in points, just a few to set an example, something like 5 points per race before it became evident or whatever. Let the drivers fight it out, but have that points reduction...

Silver Shadow wrote:I'm not one for harsh punishments, and I support Ferrari and McLaren (The latter because of the Mercedes Benz legacy and the former for Kimi). I would rather have a points reduction rather than a full suspension of the team, if it came down to that. There doesn't have to be a full blown reduction in points, just a few to set an example, something like 5 points per race before it became evident or whatever. Let the drivers fight it out, but have that points reduction...

in my opinion, maybe mclaren should be penalized by paying a certain amount - no points reduction whatsoever although i believe they'll be cleared of this scam once and for all

apprently the new evidence is thisGerman specialist magazine Auto Motor und Sport claims that Alonso and fellow Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, who is McLaren's primary test driver, could be among the sources of the mysterious evidence.

According to the rumours, de la Rosa was earlier this year given confidential Ferrari setup information by Coughlan, who has subsequently been suspended, before passing it on to Alonso.

If this is the case then McLaren are in real trouble... Though I can't see Pedro OR Alonso saying anything... It seems odd to me but I thought I'd post seeing it is the rumour going around ... And I don't have any other source then it was posted on another forum...

Speculation is mounting in Monza that world champion Fernando Alonso could be among those at the centre of the spy scandal engulfing Formula 1.

The FIA announced on Wednesday that it had new evidence over the affair and will reconvene the World Motor Sport Council to question McLaren further next Thursday, having already found the team guilty without charge of being in breach of Article 151c of the international sporting code for possessing a confidential Ferrari dossier in July.

The source and nature of the evidence in question has been the subject of intense rumour in the Italian Grand Prix paddock.

But ITV-F1.com understands that it could be linked to an email conversation between Alonso and McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa that contained set-up information on Ferrari's F2007 that pre-dates the dossier incident that sparked the scandal.

The FIA is believed to have been tipped-off to the nature of this email and subsequently sent correspondence to McLaren's drivers, as well as all the teams, reminding them that it was their duty to provide the governing body with information pertaining to the case.

Alonso and de la Rosa are also thought to have been offered an 'amnesty' from any censure in return for their full cooperation.

Alonso was not permitted to answer questions from the press on the matter on Thursday, and McLaren has insisted that it intends to co-operate fully with the FIA.

But if the team is found guilty, the punishments could range from a contructors' points deduction and a heavy fine to a full disqualification from this season and 2008.

Next Thursday's hearing would not bring an end to the matter however as McLaren would almost certainly appeal any such sentence or take the matter to a civil court.

The FIA refused to comment on any correspondence with the McLaren drivers but a spokesman has confirmed that the two men at the centre of the scandal, the sacked Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney and suspended McLaren technical director Mike Coughlan, have not been summoned to the WMSC hearing next Thursday.

And contrary to reports in the Italian press, though Stepney wrote a letter to the FIA last week, it is not believed to have contributed to the 'new evidence' in question.

Stepney's letter is thought to be connected to his own innocence and Italian newspaper La Reppublica quoted his lawyer Sonia Bartolini as saying: "There is not anything from Ferrari's point of view. This is just the start of the story, the surprises will be many and explosive."

Stepney and Coughlin must still prove to the FIA why they should granted permission to continue working in Formula 1.

"Mr Stepney and Mr Coughlin have not been called to the FIA World Council Meeting," said an FIA spokesman.

"Those proceedings will be dealt with entirely seperately."

This just gets fishier by the day, What do you guys think. Wierd stuff going on